heart-of-wessex
Established Member
Hello all,
On the 16th of May, I had a rather good sunny day on my Best of British bus bash.
So, what do I mean by Best of British bus bash you may ask? Well the idea was to hunt down some classic favourite buses of mine, such as Olympians, Steppy Darts, Breadvans, Marshall Darts etc, and maybe bring out the red pen in the process too for short leaps or lining up with other moves.
I would go on anything old and would go up to S or V reg, but if there are L reg or N reg buses around then they take priority!
So, my prediction was that I would have a bit of a low score in Weston and be bowled out by a lot of plastic models, then I could see myself coming back to Bristol and not finding many step entrance darts. Let's see how the day actually went:
0605 265 Trowbridge Town Hall - Bath Bus Station
I started off waking up later than planned at around 0535, not what I needed! With no time for coffee, I did what I should have done yesterday and packed my bag with what I needed.
Out the door at 0555, I took the short walk to the town hall bus stops via an ATM, and saw Alexander Pointer 2 Dennis Dart 42905 (WX05 RVN) allocated to the 0605 to Bath. This seems to be booked for an SLF as I believe it does something else after. 2-3 years ago when I last did it, it used to form a 318.
Not my preferred choice of stock to start the day but obviously I get on anyway so I can get to Weston-super-Mare as planned.
I get my First Day South West ticket which is indeed £7 all day, though the machine suggested it's £12.40! The driver said 'Oh, it always does that, I don't know why. It prints two of them as well!' and so it did! I paid £7 anyway as that was the actual price which is also printed on the ticket, so I don't know how the machine read £12 at the same time!
It wasn't a bad trip overall, been ages since I have been on the 265, though the dart was falling apart it seems as it was vibrating like mad all the time, and the engine was also rattling like mad over 20mph! There was only around 10 people on, some got on at Bradford-on-Avon, the rest we picked up on the outskirts of Bath.
A V reg Connect dart was seen on the 10 which had the route scrolling through on the back route display which also showed the number. A bit hard to explain but it looked odd on a small display box, as there was a very short amount of letters showing each time as it scrolled through, I had a hard time following what it said!
Arrival into the bus station at Bath was 0644, 8 minutes early. There's my original +3 connection onto the X39 made easier then!
Whilst waiting for the X39, two step entrance darts were noted, one was N reg 46925 on the 10 to Southdown, and then just after that, N reg 46247 shunted into bay 12.
At least I know there's a couple out today, but I'll pass on it for now and stick to the plan.
0655 X39 Bath Bus Station - Bristol Bus Station
Wrights Eclipse Volvo B7RLE 66734 (WX54 XCV) was allocated to the X39 this morning. Again, it's been a long time since I've been on a 54' reg Eclipse and I thought the back seat was a comfy spot...maybe not! Bog all leg room and the seat in front keeps smacking you in the knee if you don't hold the seat. Then it came to me that it was the emergency door seat that had more room.
I spent most of the journey out of Bath reading the Metro. Once I had done with that my brain kicked in coming up with the usual idea of changing plans...argh!
I still had visions of trekking down to Weston to see an Eclipse or Gemini on the 112, getting on it to see what's coming back and getting bowled by something similar again, then maybe getting bowled on other routes...I don't know why (Sorry Ivo, I shouldn't be doubting what you told me either!) so the rest of the journey was filled with 'should I? Shouldn't I? Maybe?' etc etc!
In the Brislington area, I saw a Merc bendy bus on the A4 P&R which looked suspiciously like an ex-London one as it had text blinds on the front, back and side, is there ex-TfL examples here?
Anyway soon enough we were at Bristol Bus Station arriving 15 minutes late at 0755, no surprise as the traffic was wedged in the Brislington and Temple Meads area.
The 0800 X1 was noted with a 669xx WX55 Eclipse on, well stuff that, if I wanted to do an Eclipse I'd do the X39 or 265! I wouldn't have minded a ALX400 though I wouldn't mind trying these E400s to get me to Weston.
So I flagged the Eclipse as I thought it might be a good idea to wait a bit for another one.
So I got a coffee from pumpkins and tried to get a timetable booklet for the Bath area since I don't have an up-to-date one, but the office doesn't open until 0830.
0815 353 Bristol Bus Station - Weston-super-Mare, Marine Parade
After a few minutes, an ex-Plymouth P&R E400 showed up to form the 0815 to Weston, so I opted for that! I only need 2 for sight as I have seen them yonks ago in Plymouth, but have never been on any of them.
33417 (WA56 FTP) was the E400, still in the sky blue and grass livery, which I like actually, and I must say I do like the interior with the fake leather seats, quite comfy.
33417 is fitted with a Dennis Trident chassis, something which I like, and it indeed sounded quite good actually, especially the turbo, even a bit of thrash on a kick down!
the 353 is also a new route to me as I've only ever done the X1 to Weston.
33411 was noted on the X1 Bristol at Backwell, and later Marshall Dart 41332 was seen near Yatton on some route or the other, I didn't see it as I was trying to ID the number as it passed, though after all that it is dud for sight.
Unbranded 33415 in the new X1 base colour was noted on the same service and a NC Palatine 2 was seen on the 125, at least one is out!
At Weston, I took a photo of 33417 and 33412 at the parade stop, and also one of 34167 NC Palatine 2 overtaking 33412.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67893901@N07/7219066286/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67893901@N07/7219079074/in/photostream
I then headed to the travel shop for a timetable of the area for 20p then I headed to the pier to gander through the timetable to see what I could do.
On the way to the pier I saw some form of classic bus pass the parade, but as it was in the distance on Oxford Street, I couldn't quite tell what it was or what it was doing. When I got to the road, I saw that it was stopped at the pier bus stop, so I walked very quickly before it buggered off but thankfully it was unloading passengers, who were kids with a handful of adults so it might be a chartered school trip.
The bus in question was a Bristol Lodekka in Southern Vectis livery
. I took a phot then I crossed the road for a close inspection on where it was from. A note in the window read that it was one of Crosville Motor Services. Talking of Crosville, one of their M reg darts soon passed on a 100.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67893901@N07/7219069346/in/photostream
1010 112 Weston-super-Mare, High Street - Highbridge, Naish Road
Now to break open the timetable. I thought I'd try out the 112 Highbridge service to see if a covered Olympian is out today, and I had 10 mins to make the 1010, but I had to find out where it was going from yet. The map at the back of the book was useful as it suggested to get it from Oxford Street. So I walked via Regent Street to the High Street (all in Weston by the way, imagine walking via those two London places!) and there was the 112 at the High Street stop, must be revised to this stop or something I don't know, but I didn't really care about that as Olympian OLY-50, on a step entrance NC Palatine 2 body, number 34191 (S670 AAE) was on the 112 to Highbridge!
Of course my choice of seat was the lower deck at the back by the engine room. I forgot how comfy these seats are too! I took this to Naish Road just outside of Highbridge to do the other 112 back. As it's every half hour, I saw 2 other other Olympians, 34189 and 170, on the 112 to Weston, how wrong was I about maybe being bowled down here!
Must do a visit to Brean one day too, looks like there's a fair bit you can do here for a day out, especially if you combine it with Weston. Plenty of caravan parks here that's for sure!
1114 112 Highbridge, Naish Road - Weston-super-Mare, High Street
I bailed off 34191 at Naish Road as planned since we were on time, and crossed the road for the return which showed up at 1114 with another Olympian OLY-50 example on a Palatine 2 body, in the form of 34168 (S668 AAE), another beast. It was busy downstairs so I went to the top deck, but by Brean the upper deck was rammed!
The journey back seemed a lot quicker too, somehow, but was an enjoyable ride though I haven't completed the whole 112 yet, I might to that another day.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67893901@N07/7219077712/in/photostream
1226 1 Weston-super-Mare, Regent Street - Sand Bay
Back at the High Street I walked to the sea front to see what was about....christ on a bike! Is that a CityBus Alexander RH? It is indeed the D reg open topper on the route 1!
I headed over to Regent Street while it went via the Rail Station to pick it up there, and in the meantime I saw a load of Marshall Darts on the locals, must do at least one later, spoilt for choice here!
Also, I didn't know Crosville took First Bus idea and runs a 100 service to Sand Bay also using a classic decker in the form of a half-open top F reg Olympian! That left in a cloud of smoke (a nice diesel smell cloud too!) then the Alexander RH on a Volvo B10M chassis turned up, number 38005 (D705 GHY).
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67893901@N07/7219070764/in/photostream
Stupidly I sat at the back wondering why it sounds quiet, of course these are mid engine, duh! Sitting towards the middle was much better, and god the thrash! I remember how hellfire these were as I used to get on the single decker D reg types to school, in Badgerline livery too...oh the days!
I was the only passenger on throughout too, as the 100 was in front taking the passengers, same for the way back. The driver was the same driver who drove the 353 and X1 earlier.
It did get me thinking what routes new drivers are on, as the 1 seems like a bit of a challenge for beginners.
On the way up, I saw L reg 32290 was also on the 1, two good ones out today!
1252 1 Sand Bay - Weston Old Pier
At Sand Bay, I got off for a couple of photos then returned on 38005. I checked by book to see that 38005 is dud for haulage, thought it was though I'm not bothered about ones I have done before, I'm just grateful that one is out!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67893901@N07/7219076398/in/photostream
I returned back to Weston Old Pier stop sitting in the middle for the thrash again, some epic kick down thrash on this too!
1336 1 Weston Old Pier - Sand Bay
I bailed off at the Old Pier stop as its the crossover point, a +0 in the timetable but we were a couple of minutes early so it stopped for time to catch up, and this gave me a chance to cross the road and get the other 1 to Sand Bay, which turned up with open top NC Palatine 2 Volvo Olympian YN2RC 39920 (L650 SEU) which was actually required for haulage too.
It was busy on this one, so I went upstairs...bad move that was as it was bloody cold and the wind was messing my hair!
I got off at Sand Bay for another photo session then re-joined the decker and it was empty downstairs this time, so I sat by the engine.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67893901@N07/7219067952/in/photostream
A decent ride back and even the driver made a couple of attempts to overtake crosvilles M reg dart in front on the 100 but the dart got away on each attempt!
I took 39920 to the Rail Station, then walked over to Regent Street giving me a chance to have a fag in the process.
Time to do a local I think, and just as I arrived, Marshall Dart 41335 arrived on the 5 to Worle, but the driver wasn't letting anyone on yet, there appeared to be a long hissing noise from the front wheel next to the doors. The driver got out, looked at it, tried the kneel buttons to raise it but it was stuck kneeling down.
The next attempt was to pump the brakes, and then floor the accelerator. Flooring it didn't solve it but christ the thrash and the clag
hock:! Was like a Deltic thrashing away on the street!
(as seen here http://www.flickr.com/photos/67893901@N07/7219075068/in/photostream)
Some old ladies were standing in horror commenting that they thought the bus was on fire, and one said no I doubt it! I should thought no it's not fire, it's hellfire
!
Unfortunately the air bag was stuffed so it was dumped at a replacement was being sorted, but what would the replacement be? Well, the other 5 was due soon, but we'll see what that is if it turns up first.
1426 5 Weston Regent Street - Worle Sainsbury's
I think 41335 was limping to Regent Street, as shortly after, the 1426 turned up (so 41335 was probably the 1356) but the 1426 was ex-London Marshall Dart (still with DML code inside) 41687. Hmm a gamble to wave it off only to find the replacement being something modern. I took the opportunity to scoop in 41687 (W687 ULL) all the way to Worle.
Nice thrash throughout too on a roller coaster ride, storming down the hills and thrashing up hills, we weren't going to uphill though......
The gear from 3-4 was a bit iffy, as it was jumping up and down for a second before actually changing gear, not to much of an issue though.
1500 3 Worle Sainsbury's - Weston Regent Street
At Worle Sainsbury's, I decided to gamble the route 3 to take me back as that was due in 10 minutes, otherwise it's a bit of a longer wait for something else. I waved off the Marshall dart as I remembered seeing a Marshall on the route 3 earlier, but there was also Solo 53014 on it too.
The 7 showed up first but I wasn't interested as all these were eclipses anyway. a couple of minutes later, 53014 turned up on the 3...drat!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67893901@N07/7219072450/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67893901@N07/7219073876/in/photostream
I chose ex-Plymouth Optare Solo W814PAF with a M850 engine (Mercedes I think?) to take be back to Weston, plus I've never done the 3 before nor 53014 (seen it a trillion times before)
Schools were kicking out now too, what a good time to be on a Solo....Thankfully though, only about 3 kids got on throughout, I had visions of it being rammed to the rafters!
The Solo didn't sound too bad compared to the Bath lot I've done, though this one is older and might have a different engine to the WX05 ones I forget now.
Quite a trek round on the 3 and we eventually got to Weston Regent Street at 1528. I saw a Marshall Dart on the 14, 41332, another spin up to Worle? I decided against it and head up to Bristol for the evening rush hour.
1550 X1 Weston Marine Parade - Bristol Bus Station
I got another E400 Dennis Trident on the X1 to Bristol, this time on 33418 in new X1 livery, looks rather smart actually I must say!
It wasn't as good as 33417 though for sound, though it might be because I've been on descent sounding buses for most the day!
It was roasting inside too, so I spent half the time nodding off as it got to the point where the warmth drifts you to sleep, though I didn't miss the points where the trident was in full drive down the Dual Carriageway, that was a bit of a beasty sound then. (however, how about a RH Volvo B10M down here)
We arrived into Bristol Bus Station at 1700.
1710 354 Bristol Bus Station - Theynes Court
I saw a P reg and N reg dart at the bus station, though I'd prefer to have a bash on the N reg. This was allocated to the 1710 354 to Nailsea. Hmm 10 minutes, need a loo break first so I used the bus station lavatory and the turnstile was broke so 20p was not needed for today, woo!
I then went to the travel shop for the 20p BANES timetable and the greater Bristol travel map. I then boarded 46244 (N244 LHT) but getting the thrash seat at the back wasn't possible as all seats were taken then, so I stuck to the middle seat.
As we left the bus station, I saw an N reg dart at the traffic lights, another steppy was seen in the distance and in front was an M reg dart...gosh there's a lot out today than I thought!
Sitting behind me was someone who sounded exactly (and just about looks like) Michael Portillo, talking rather loudly to his parter about the most prosperous City outside of London (which I had to find out later what it meant as it bugged me to what it means!)
I took this to Long Ashton Theynes Court bus stop for a +14 for another 354 back to Bristol, time for a ciggie move here.
1745 354 Theynes Court - Bristol Bus Station
There was a digital display screen for the Bristol bound stop, which showed the expected times for the next 3 services, though this was reduced to the next 354 to Bristol in due in 4 minutes, then it just collapsed and said it was unable to work out any estimates and that one should refer to the timetable....that worked then...
I made sure I wasn't looking away for too long as the stop was after a corner, and I could picture it racing past. Sure enough near on time, a Plaxton Pointer 1 was seen approaching, and I was treated to a P reg dart for the return, 46264 (p264 PAE). As it was emptier coming back, I got a seat by the engine, lovely sound as usual! Been a while since I last heard it properly, glad to get my fix in!
I tried to plan some moves for the 36, though the big huge fold out map was something else opening it up on the bus, it's like making a cake with boxing gloves on!
I managed to fold it back to it's original state somehow though!
The plan was to do the 90 to near Hengrove, then do the 36 or vice versa, there should be one Dart on the 36, I don't know what I'd have to put up with on the 90 though.
However, on arrival back to the bus station, a change of plan was in order already!
???? 310 - Bristol Bus Station - Zetland Road Junction
Another Plaxton Pointer 1 46234 (N234 KAE) was on the 310 to Thornbury, so I wasn't going to turn away from that whilst it was there, so a swift connection saw me on a near full bus, though it meant going up the trunk route up to Montpelier, and it took quite a while to do the 1 mile to Zetland Road, even two people I saw walking from the centre near the roundabout by the Haymarket, got most the way up the road quicker than us!
1823 75 Montpelier Coulstons - Bristol Bus Station
I doubled back under the rail bridge from the bus stop to Coulstons stop, for the next bus back to the Centre, which was 37614 Wrights Gemini Volvo B9 taking me to The Haymarket, a much quicker trip back though than going out!
There wasn't any steppys in sight around here, so I went to the bus station to see what was lying around there. 46244 arrived and then pulled out of service reversing out to the stabling bays, and that's about it. I wondered about maybe doing one or two in Bath and start heading out to Bath now as time is getting on, and I didn't want to get home too late as I had to be at work in Asda the next day.
1845 X39 Bristol Bus Station - Bath Bus Station
I boarded 66731 on the 1845 back to Bath, not much to note at all whatsoever on this trip as I was getting tired, and being warm didn't help so I slept all the way back to the bus station.
Unfortunately WX05 SLF darts plagued the local services so I may have been too late now, so I went to McDonalds and then called it a day.
2015 265 Bath Bus Station - Trowbridge Town Hall
My last move of the day was Eclipse 66943 on the 2015 to Trowbridge. Some time ago, the late services used to have a habit of being boarding on the departure time and it seems to still happen, as the driver turned up at the back of 2014, set up and loaded passengers on, then a quick fire up, straight into reverse then leaving the bus station 2 minutes late.
I spent the trip back doing some paperwork I needed to do for work which I knew I could get on with at some point today, and this was a good chance to do so!
An overall super day out and I was glad that I went to Weston in the end, but there was so much more I could have done if time allowed! I do plan to do another one very soon covering the ones in Bristol that I couldn't do, and maybe I could get back to Bath in time to catch them there too.
Hopefully the above helps anyone wanting to do any Olympians in the area too, try Weston for the 125 and 112, and of course the 1 on a clear day.
I got a few sound clips too that I may upload to YouTube soon, links will be posted here since I've mentioned it here
Oh and finally, a HUGE thank you to Ivo for his assistance in the First Wales and South West thread, much appreciated!
Stats:
Mileage altogether - 170m
Highest Mileage on one bus - 25m 57ch on 33417 and 33418 on the X1
Lowest Mileage on one bus - 1.1m on 37614 from Montpelier to The Haymarket
Best part of trip - The ride on Alexander RH 38005 on the route 1, cannot beat that!
Worst part of trip - Hard to think of one, but the X39 to Bristol was a right old drag and had a numb rear end by the time I got to Bristol!
On the 16th of May, I had a rather good sunny day on my Best of British bus bash.
So, what do I mean by Best of British bus bash you may ask? Well the idea was to hunt down some classic favourite buses of mine, such as Olympians, Steppy Darts, Breadvans, Marshall Darts etc, and maybe bring out the red pen in the process too for short leaps or lining up with other moves.
I would go on anything old and would go up to S or V reg, but if there are L reg or N reg buses around then they take priority!
So, my prediction was that I would have a bit of a low score in Weston and be bowled out by a lot of plastic models, then I could see myself coming back to Bristol and not finding many step entrance darts. Let's see how the day actually went:
0605 265 Trowbridge Town Hall - Bath Bus Station
I started off waking up later than planned at around 0535, not what I needed! With no time for coffee, I did what I should have done yesterday and packed my bag with what I needed.
Out the door at 0555, I took the short walk to the town hall bus stops via an ATM, and saw Alexander Pointer 2 Dennis Dart 42905 (WX05 RVN) allocated to the 0605 to Bath. This seems to be booked for an SLF as I believe it does something else after. 2-3 years ago when I last did it, it used to form a 318.
Not my preferred choice of stock to start the day but obviously I get on anyway so I can get to Weston-super-Mare as planned.
I get my First Day South West ticket which is indeed £7 all day, though the machine suggested it's £12.40! The driver said 'Oh, it always does that, I don't know why. It prints two of them as well!' and so it did! I paid £7 anyway as that was the actual price which is also printed on the ticket, so I don't know how the machine read £12 at the same time!
It wasn't a bad trip overall, been ages since I have been on the 265, though the dart was falling apart it seems as it was vibrating like mad all the time, and the engine was also rattling like mad over 20mph! There was only around 10 people on, some got on at Bradford-on-Avon, the rest we picked up on the outskirts of Bath.
A V reg Connect dart was seen on the 10 which had the route scrolling through on the back route display which also showed the number. A bit hard to explain but it looked odd on a small display box, as there was a very short amount of letters showing each time as it scrolled through, I had a hard time following what it said!
Arrival into the bus station at Bath was 0644, 8 minutes early. There's my original +3 connection onto the X39 made easier then!
Whilst waiting for the X39, two step entrance darts were noted, one was N reg 46925 on the 10 to Southdown, and then just after that, N reg 46247 shunted into bay 12.
At least I know there's a couple out today, but I'll pass on it for now and stick to the plan.
0655 X39 Bath Bus Station - Bristol Bus Station
Wrights Eclipse Volvo B7RLE 66734 (WX54 XCV) was allocated to the X39 this morning. Again, it's been a long time since I've been on a 54' reg Eclipse and I thought the back seat was a comfy spot...maybe not! Bog all leg room and the seat in front keeps smacking you in the knee if you don't hold the seat. Then it came to me that it was the emergency door seat that had more room.
I spent most of the journey out of Bath reading the Metro. Once I had done with that my brain kicked in coming up with the usual idea of changing plans...argh!
I still had visions of trekking down to Weston to see an Eclipse or Gemini on the 112, getting on it to see what's coming back and getting bowled by something similar again, then maybe getting bowled on other routes...I don't know why (Sorry Ivo, I shouldn't be doubting what you told me either!) so the rest of the journey was filled with 'should I? Shouldn't I? Maybe?' etc etc!
In the Brislington area, I saw a Merc bendy bus on the A4 P&R which looked suspiciously like an ex-London one as it had text blinds on the front, back and side, is there ex-TfL examples here?
Anyway soon enough we were at Bristol Bus Station arriving 15 minutes late at 0755, no surprise as the traffic was wedged in the Brislington and Temple Meads area.
The 0800 X1 was noted with a 669xx WX55 Eclipse on, well stuff that, if I wanted to do an Eclipse I'd do the X39 or 265! I wouldn't have minded a ALX400 though I wouldn't mind trying these E400s to get me to Weston.
So I flagged the Eclipse as I thought it might be a good idea to wait a bit for another one.
So I got a coffee from pumpkins and tried to get a timetable booklet for the Bath area since I don't have an up-to-date one, but the office doesn't open until 0830.
0815 353 Bristol Bus Station - Weston-super-Mare, Marine Parade
After a few minutes, an ex-Plymouth P&R E400 showed up to form the 0815 to Weston, so I opted for that! I only need 2 for sight as I have seen them yonks ago in Plymouth, but have never been on any of them.
33417 (WA56 FTP) was the E400, still in the sky blue and grass livery, which I like actually, and I must say I do like the interior with the fake leather seats, quite comfy.
33417 is fitted with a Dennis Trident chassis, something which I like, and it indeed sounded quite good actually, especially the turbo, even a bit of thrash on a kick down!
the 353 is also a new route to me as I've only ever done the X1 to Weston.
33411 was noted on the X1 Bristol at Backwell, and later Marshall Dart 41332 was seen near Yatton on some route or the other, I didn't see it as I was trying to ID the number as it passed, though after all that it is dud for sight.
Unbranded 33415 in the new X1 base colour was noted on the same service and a NC Palatine 2 was seen on the 125, at least one is out!
At Weston, I took a photo of 33417 and 33412 at the parade stop, and also one of 34167 NC Palatine 2 overtaking 33412.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67893901@N07/7219066286/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67893901@N07/7219079074/in/photostream
I then headed to the travel shop for a timetable of the area for 20p then I headed to the pier to gander through the timetable to see what I could do.
On the way to the pier I saw some form of classic bus pass the parade, but as it was in the distance on Oxford Street, I couldn't quite tell what it was or what it was doing. When I got to the road, I saw that it was stopped at the pier bus stop, so I walked very quickly before it buggered off but thankfully it was unloading passengers, who were kids with a handful of adults so it might be a chartered school trip.
The bus in question was a Bristol Lodekka in Southern Vectis livery
. I took a phot then I crossed the road for a close inspection on where it was from. A note in the window read that it was one of Crosville Motor Services. Talking of Crosville, one of their M reg darts soon passed on a 100.http://www.flickr.com/photos/67893901@N07/7219069346/in/photostream
1010 112 Weston-super-Mare, High Street - Highbridge, Naish Road
Now to break open the timetable. I thought I'd try out the 112 Highbridge service to see if a covered Olympian is out today, and I had 10 mins to make the 1010, but I had to find out where it was going from yet. The map at the back of the book was useful as it suggested to get it from Oxford Street. So I walked via Regent Street to the High Street (all in Weston by the way, imagine walking via those two London places!) and there was the 112 at the High Street stop, must be revised to this stop or something I don't know, but I didn't really care about that as Olympian OLY-50, on a step entrance NC Palatine 2 body, number 34191 (S670 AAE) was on the 112 to Highbridge!
Of course my choice of seat was the lower deck at the back by the engine room. I forgot how comfy these seats are too! I took this to Naish Road just outside of Highbridge to do the other 112 back. As it's every half hour, I saw 2 other other Olympians, 34189 and 170, on the 112 to Weston, how wrong was I about maybe being bowled down here!
Must do a visit to Brean one day too, looks like there's a fair bit you can do here for a day out, especially if you combine it with Weston. Plenty of caravan parks here that's for sure!
1114 112 Highbridge, Naish Road - Weston-super-Mare, High Street
I bailed off 34191 at Naish Road as planned since we were on time, and crossed the road for the return which showed up at 1114 with another Olympian OLY-50 example on a Palatine 2 body, in the form of 34168 (S668 AAE), another beast. It was busy downstairs so I went to the top deck, but by Brean the upper deck was rammed!
The journey back seemed a lot quicker too, somehow, but was an enjoyable ride though I haven't completed the whole 112 yet, I might to that another day.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67893901@N07/7219077712/in/photostream
1226 1 Weston-super-Mare, Regent Street - Sand Bay
Back at the High Street I walked to the sea front to see what was about....christ on a bike! Is that a CityBus Alexander RH? It is indeed the D reg open topper on the route 1
!I headed over to Regent Street while it went via the Rail Station to pick it up there, and in the meantime I saw a load of Marshall Darts on the locals, must do at least one later, spoilt for choice here!
Also, I didn't know Crosville took First Bus idea and runs a 100 service to Sand Bay also using a classic decker in the form of a half-open top F reg Olympian! That left in a cloud of smoke (a nice diesel smell cloud too!) then the Alexander RH on a Volvo B10M chassis turned up, number 38005 (D705 GHY).
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67893901@N07/7219070764/in/photostream
Stupidly I sat at the back wondering why it sounds quiet, of course these are mid engine, duh! Sitting towards the middle was much better, and god the thrash! I remember how hellfire these were as I used to get on the single decker D reg types to school, in Badgerline livery too...oh the days!
I was the only passenger on throughout too, as the 100 was in front taking the passengers, same for the way back. The driver was the same driver who drove the 353 and X1 earlier.
It did get me thinking what routes new drivers are on, as the 1 seems like a bit of a challenge for beginners.
On the way up, I saw L reg 32290 was also on the 1, two good ones out today!
1252 1 Sand Bay - Weston Old Pier
At Sand Bay, I got off for a couple of photos then returned on 38005. I checked by book to see that 38005 is dud for haulage, thought it was though I'm not bothered about ones I have done before, I'm just grateful that one is out!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67893901@N07/7219076398/in/photostream
I returned back to Weston Old Pier stop sitting in the middle for the thrash again, some epic kick down thrash on this too!
1336 1 Weston Old Pier - Sand Bay
I bailed off at the Old Pier stop as its the crossover point, a +0 in the timetable but we were a couple of minutes early so it stopped for time to catch up, and this gave me a chance to cross the road and get the other 1 to Sand Bay, which turned up with open top NC Palatine 2 Volvo Olympian YN2RC 39920 (L650 SEU) which was actually required for haulage too.
It was busy on this one, so I went upstairs...bad move that was as it was bloody cold and the wind was messing my hair!
I got off at Sand Bay for another photo session then re-joined the decker and it was empty downstairs this time, so I sat by the engine.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67893901@N07/7219067952/in/photostream
A decent ride back and even the driver made a couple of attempts to overtake crosvilles M reg dart in front on the 100 but the dart got away on each attempt!
I took 39920 to the Rail Station, then walked over to Regent Street giving me a chance to have a fag in the process.
Time to do a local I think, and just as I arrived, Marshall Dart 41335 arrived on the 5 to Worle, but the driver wasn't letting anyone on yet, there appeared to be a long hissing noise from the front wheel next to the doors. The driver got out, looked at it, tried the kneel buttons to raise it but it was stuck kneeling down.
The next attempt was to pump the brakes, and then floor the accelerator. Flooring it didn't solve it but christ the thrash and the clag
hock:! Was like a Deltic thrashing away on the street!(as seen here http://www.flickr.com/photos/67893901@N07/7219075068/in/photostream)
Some old ladies were standing in horror commenting that they thought the bus was on fire, and one said no I doubt it! I should thought no it's not fire, it's hellfire
!Unfortunately the air bag was stuffed so it was dumped at a replacement was being sorted, but what would the replacement be? Well, the other 5 was due soon, but we'll see what that is if it turns up first.
1426 5 Weston Regent Street - Worle Sainsbury's
I think 41335 was limping to Regent Street, as shortly after, the 1426 turned up (so 41335 was probably the 1356) but the 1426 was ex-London Marshall Dart (still with DML code inside) 41687. Hmm a gamble to wave it off only to find the replacement being something modern. I took the opportunity to scoop in 41687 (W687 ULL) all the way to Worle.
Nice thrash throughout too on a roller coaster ride, storming down the hills and thrashing up hills, we weren't going to uphill though......
The gear from 3-4 was a bit iffy, as it was jumping up and down for a second before actually changing gear, not to much of an issue though.
1500 3 Worle Sainsbury's - Weston Regent Street
At Worle Sainsbury's, I decided to gamble the route 3 to take me back as that was due in 10 minutes, otherwise it's a bit of a longer wait for something else. I waved off the Marshall dart as I remembered seeing a Marshall on the route 3 earlier, but there was also Solo 53014 on it too.
The 7 showed up first but I wasn't interested as all these were eclipses anyway. a couple of minutes later, 53014 turned up on the 3...drat!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67893901@N07/7219072450/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67893901@N07/7219073876/in/photostream
I chose ex-Plymouth Optare Solo W814PAF with a M850 engine (Mercedes I think?) to take be back to Weston, plus I've never done the 3 before nor 53014 (seen it a trillion times before)
Schools were kicking out now too, what a good time to be on a Solo....Thankfully though, only about 3 kids got on throughout, I had visions of it being rammed to the rafters!
The Solo didn't sound too bad compared to the Bath lot I've done, though this one is older and might have a different engine to the WX05 ones I forget now.
Quite a trek round on the 3 and we eventually got to Weston Regent Street at 1528. I saw a Marshall Dart on the 14, 41332, another spin up to Worle? I decided against it and head up to Bristol for the evening rush hour.
1550 X1 Weston Marine Parade - Bristol Bus Station
I got another E400 Dennis Trident on the X1 to Bristol, this time on 33418 in new X1 livery, looks rather smart actually I must say!
It wasn't as good as 33417 though for sound, though it might be because I've been on descent sounding buses for most the day!
It was roasting inside too, so I spent half the time nodding off as it got to the point where the warmth drifts you to sleep, though I didn't miss the points where the trident was in full drive down the Dual Carriageway, that was a bit of a beasty sound then. (however, how about a RH Volvo B10M down here
)We arrived into Bristol Bus Station at 1700.
1710 354 Bristol Bus Station - Theynes Court
I saw a P reg and N reg dart at the bus station, though I'd prefer to have a bash on the N reg. This was allocated to the 1710 354 to Nailsea. Hmm 10 minutes, need a loo break first so I used the bus station lavatory and the turnstile was broke so 20p was not needed for today, woo!
I then went to the travel shop for the 20p BANES timetable and the greater Bristol travel map. I then boarded 46244 (N244 LHT) but getting the thrash seat at the back wasn't possible as all seats were taken then, so I stuck to the middle seat.
As we left the bus station, I saw an N reg dart at the traffic lights, another steppy was seen in the distance and in front was an M reg dart...gosh there's a lot out today than I thought!
Sitting behind me was someone who sounded exactly (and just about looks like) Michael Portillo, talking rather loudly to his parter about the most prosperous City outside of London (which I had to find out later what it meant as it bugged me to what it means!)
I took this to Long Ashton Theynes Court bus stop for a +14 for another 354 back to Bristol, time for a ciggie move here.
1745 354 Theynes Court - Bristol Bus Station
There was a digital display screen for the Bristol bound stop, which showed the expected times for the next 3 services, though this was reduced to the next 354 to Bristol in due in 4 minutes, then it just collapsed and said it was unable to work out any estimates and that one should refer to the timetable....that worked then...
I made sure I wasn't looking away for too long as the stop was after a corner, and I could picture it racing past. Sure enough near on time, a Plaxton Pointer 1 was seen approaching, and I was treated to a P reg dart for the return, 46264 (p264 PAE). As it was emptier coming back, I got a seat by the engine, lovely sound as usual! Been a while since I last heard it properly, glad to get my fix in!
I tried to plan some moves for the 36, though the big huge fold out map was something else opening it up on the bus, it's like making a cake with boxing gloves on!
I managed to fold it back to it's original state somehow though!
The plan was to do the 90 to near Hengrove, then do the 36 or vice versa, there should be one Dart on the 36, I don't know what I'd have to put up with on the 90 though.
However, on arrival back to the bus station, a change of plan was in order already!
???? 310 - Bristol Bus Station - Zetland Road Junction
Another Plaxton Pointer 1 46234 (N234 KAE) was on the 310 to Thornbury, so I wasn't going to turn away from that whilst it was there, so a swift connection saw me on a near full bus, though it meant going up the trunk route up to Montpelier, and it took quite a while to do the 1 mile to Zetland Road, even two people I saw walking from the centre near the roundabout by the Haymarket, got most the way up the road quicker than us!
1823 75 Montpelier Coulstons - Bristol Bus Station
I doubled back under the rail bridge from the bus stop to Coulstons stop, for the next bus back to the Centre, which was 37614 Wrights Gemini Volvo B9 taking me to The Haymarket, a much quicker trip back though than going out!
There wasn't any steppys in sight around here, so I went to the bus station to see what was lying around there. 46244 arrived and then pulled out of service reversing out to the stabling bays, and that's about it. I wondered about maybe doing one or two in Bath and start heading out to Bath now as time is getting on, and I didn't want to get home too late as I had to be at work in Asda the next day.
1845 X39 Bristol Bus Station - Bath Bus Station
I boarded 66731 on the 1845 back to Bath, not much to note at all whatsoever on this trip as I was getting tired, and being warm didn't help so I slept all the way back to the bus station.
Unfortunately WX05 SLF darts plagued the local services so I may have been too late now, so I went to McDonalds and then called it a day.
2015 265 Bath Bus Station - Trowbridge Town Hall
My last move of the day was Eclipse 66943 on the 2015 to Trowbridge. Some time ago, the late services used to have a habit of being boarding on the departure time and it seems to still happen, as the driver turned up at the back of 2014, set up and loaded passengers on, then a quick fire up, straight into reverse then leaving the bus station 2 minutes late.
I spent the trip back doing some paperwork I needed to do for work which I knew I could get on with at some point today, and this was a good chance to do so!
An overall super day out and I was glad that I went to Weston in the end, but there was so much more I could have done if time allowed! I do plan to do another one very soon covering the ones in Bristol that I couldn't do, and maybe I could get back to Bath in time to catch them there too.
Hopefully the above helps anyone wanting to do any Olympians in the area too, try Weston for the 125 and 112, and of course the 1 on a clear day.
I got a few sound clips too that I may upload to YouTube soon, links will be posted here since I've mentioned it here
Oh and finally, a HUGE thank you to Ivo for his assistance in the First Wales and South West thread, much appreciated
!Stats:
Mileage altogether - 170m
Highest Mileage on one bus - 25m 57ch on 33417 and 33418 on the X1
Lowest Mileage on one bus - 1.1m on 37614 from Montpelier to The Haymarket
Best part of trip - The ride on Alexander RH 38005 on the route 1, cannot beat that!
Worst part of trip - Hard to think of one, but the X39 to Bristol was a right old drag and had a numb rear end by the time I got to Bristol!
I was tempted to ask to go with you, but I knew that (a) I couldn't guarantee I'd be able to and (b) by the time my pass became valid you'd be long gone!
I also got inspired to look through my now old collection of First Cymru buses in action in Swansea, 22nd July 2008, and look what I found:
